Education Programs

Young Filmmakers Camp

SFFILM’s Young Filmmakers Camp is an intensive media-making summer program and an opportunity for teens ages 14–18 to learn from first-class film professionals in a fun, interactive, and collaborative environment.

The program is broken up into two two-week segment options: the Starter Lab, which is for beginner students looking to learn the basics of filmmaking and enhance their storytelling skills; and the Advanced Lab, which is for students who want to build upon their existing skills. In both labs, students will dive deep into the filmmaking process by learning about screenwriting, storyboarding, production, cinematography, sound, editing, and much more! They will have the exciting opportunity to work together with other young filmmakers to create short films that are screened on the final day of camp.

Students have the option to sign up for both Labs for a 4-week immersive filmmaking experience.

Lead Instructor
Maddy Leonard is a filmmaker, artist, and the SFFILM Education Program Coordinator. She is a creative educator who has spent half a decade teaching youth about film and media literacy, and mentoring youth as they produce their own films.

Maddy will be joined in her instruction by additional Bay Area professional filmmakers from SFFILM’s Makers program.

Starter Lab

July 6–17, 2020

Advanced Lab

July 20–31, 2020
* Prerequisite for the Advanced Lab is completion of Starter lab or equivalent filmmaking experience

Details for both Labs

Schedule
Monday–Friday
9:00 am–4:00 pm

Location
Town School for Boys
2750 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Tuition
$950 per Lab for SFFILM members
$1000 per Lab for general public

Enroll Here

Did you know? SFFILM offers scholarships for young filmmakers! Each year we provide a limited amount of partial and full scholarship assistance to our campers. All requests are considered and undergo a formal review process to determine eligibility.

APPLY HERE

Want to make a positive impact on the next generation of storytellers? You can help SFFILM Education serve students in need by making a fully tax-deductible gift in support of Young Filmmakers Camp Scholarship Assistance.

MAKE A GIFT

For questions about enrollment or scholarship applications please contact SFFILM Education Program Coordinator Maddy Leonard at mleonard@sffilm.org or 415-561-5023.

Camp coursework developed in collaboration with pro video team at Apple.

Filmmakers in the Classroom

Filmmakers in the Classroom is a semester-long program that provides on-site professional development for teachers in grades 4–12 who want to integrate media making and viewing into their classroom curriculum.

In partnership with a local professional filmmaker and SFFILM Education staff, participating teachers develop customized curricula that give students intensive, hands-on instruction in media literacy, critical thinking, and filmmaking. At the start of the semester, the partnering filmmaker and teacher meet for a curriculum development workshop, then team-teach a series of classroom sessions over the course of the semester. The program culminates in the production of collaborative short film projects by the students, while the teacher acquires the skills to use media effectively in subsequent classes and to develop their own future media making projects.

To learn more, email mleonard@sffilm.org.

Screenings for Schools

Screenings for Schools is a year-round series of carefully curated films and presentations at theaters, schools and other venues in the San Francisco Bay Area. Films are selected to support the curriculum of a range of grade levels and subject areas, and all programs are interactive experiences with opportunities for students to engage with filmmakers, industry professionals, and subject area specialists in post-screening discussions and Q&As.

Through this program, SFFILM Education also brings filmmakers directly into the schools to meet and discuss their films with students in smaller classroom settings. These interactive visits allow students to engage with filmmakers from around the world and give the artists the opportunity to gain valuable feedback from younger audiences. All programs are developed in alignment with Common Core and California educational standards for media literacy.

To learn more, email education@sffilm.org.

SFFILM Education Screening Schools Festival

Family Programming

Building on the success of the popular family-oriented programming at the San Francisco International Film Festival, SFFILM has significantly expanded its year-round offerings for kids and families. These programs—which include screenings of family-friendly films with Q&As, interactive cinema experiences, hands-on workshops, opportunities to engage directly with filmmakers and industry professionals, and more—seek to provide accessible and enlightening film experiences as a resource for families all over the Bay Area. SFFILM’s family programming also utilizes the SFFILM Education team’s expertise in developing media literacy and critical thinking skills, illuminating diverse world cultures, and inspiring a lifelong appreciation of cinema. Discussion guides and other teaching tools specific to the films being screened are frequently made available to event attendees to help parents navigate post-screening conversations with their kids. These screenings are a great group activity for the whole family—scheduled primarily on weekends, free of charge whenever possible, and with content appropriate for kids from kindergarten to high school, 5–18. Specific age recommendations are provided with each event.

The Art & Science of Lucasfilm

This program series brings professionals from Lucasfilm together with Bay Area middle and high school students to demonstrate the intersection of art and science in the entertainment industry. Lucasfilm directors, supervisors, artists, and engineers lead students through behind-the-scenes, interactive multimedia presentations and particiate in in-depth discussions and Q&As.